Taelomu Louisa Crawley

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Taelomu Louisa Crawley

Louisa Crawley was born in Samoa but won a scholarship to study at a boarding school in New Plymouth. She eventually became a teacher at Wellington schools before returning to Samoa. 

On her return to New Zealand in the 1980s she settled in Christchurch and served on the City Council as well as being very involved in many of the city's community and cultural organisations. Crawley worked as a policy advisor in the newly-formed Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs and served two terms as President of the national women's organisation, P.A.C.I.F.I.C.A.  

In this 1993 radio interview, Crawley recalls she was the first girl to come to her school from the Pacific and although she was homesick, it had its advantages.

Find out more about Taelomu Louisa Crawley:

Listen to the full 1993 interview with Louisa Crawley. 

Read Christchurch City Libraries profile of Louisa Crawley.

Find out more about P.A.C.I.F.I.C.A. in this essay co-written by Crawley. 

Image: Taelomu Louisa Crawley, courtesy Christchurch City Libraries.